Apparatus for moving molten metal



Nov. 11, 1969 J. w. ANDERSON APPARATUS FOR MOVING MOLTEN METAL Filed Feb. 9, 1968 %Mam ABSTRACT ou mnprscLosUE 3,477,6 15 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 l i 4' I 2 I t. r

lis a planvfview of a section of an openhearth furnace showing the utilization therein of the aspirating An aspirating deviceformed with a nozzle at one end ?e head end thref and disposed lngt'udinally therein and including a transversely extending exhaust branch opening to one side of the'device and a suction branch connected to the exhaust branch and opening to the nozzle of the device. The aspirator further includes an oxygen conduit having its nlet at the head end of the device and its outlet adjacent the nozzle of the device whereby to support combustion and maintain steel in molten condition when aspirating a pool threof from a fault in an open hearth furnace bed. It may also include a cooling water conduit disposed in and around the device having nlet and outlet openings at the head end thereof.

This invention relates to a novel method and apparatu's for removing molten steel from pockets in the surface of an open hearth furnace bottom where the metal collects and is ordinarily dflicult to remove.

These pockets or irregularities form in the bottom of an open hearth furnace through faults or erosion, and it is necessary to remove molten metal which collects therein and which does not normally flow out through the furnace tap hole. Ordinarily, in order to reach these pockets it is necessary to cut the refractory lining from an edge and form a path to the' pocket to drain therefrom the collected molten steel, and then to repatch or replace the lining.

The process and apparatus of the present invention simplifies the removal of the molten steel from such pockets after a batch has been discharged from the open hearth in a rapid and simple manner without damage to the lining, permtting prolonged use before lining repair or replacemcnt. This I accomplish by a suction or aspirating process and apparatus which can conveniently be directed towards the pocket to be cleaned out while maintaning the steel in molten condition.

Thus, the apparatus of my invention comprises a mobile device which can be articulated to a vehicle, introduced through a furnace door to the bed of the open hearth furnace, and its nozzle placed adjacent the pool or pocket of molten steel to be removed, while directing oxygen to the pool of molten metal to support combustion and to retain the metal in molten condition. At the same time a stream of air, under pressure is passed across the nozzle orifice and caused to lift the molten metal by a suction or aspirating action from the pocket into the air conduit which discharges its collected burden of molten steel to an area of the furnace lining away from the pocket and wherefrom it can natural drain out. The aspirator device is at the same time kept cool by flowing water through it.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention, its details of construction, arrangement of parts and economies thereof will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawjngs wherein:

device of the present invention. v

FIG. 2 is aperspective view of the aspirating device of the present invention 4 I y p V FIG. 3 is a sectionon the line 3-3of FIG. 2.

p Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates thebed of an open hearth furnace whichtas usual isrrconstructed offire brick and overlaid with a layer of, refractory cementitious material. Regardless of thedegre of carein formng such open hearth furnace bed, it is subject tot erosion and wear andjn time the occurrence oi? apertures or othertfaults; therein so that when a heat isdischarged through the tap hole 11 some molten steelfiremains in the pockets 12 which does `not readily flow out but which must be removed. Heretofore, it has been necessary to rout out the bed of the furnace through one edge thereof causing considrable damage and loss of time and necessity for repair.

tIn accordance with the present invention, I apply an aspirator generally indicated as 13 which may be passed into one of the furnace openings 14 by means of a vehicle, not shown, Secured to the Connector 15 pivotally engaged as at 16 to the head end of the aspirator. The aspirator 13 in general comprises the shell or body 17 which may be of elongated character as shown and has a nozzle portion generally indicated as 18.4

Disposed within the aspirator 13 is an air conduit 19 extending from an opening at the head end of the aspirator device which may be connected to the air supply hose 20 leading from a suitable source of compressed air not shown. This conduit 19 which extends longitudinally of the aspirator device leads into the transversaly extending exhaust branch 21 .and which opens exteriorly and to one side of the shell 17, as at 22, to exhaust. connected to this exhaust branch 21 is the suction branch 23 opening at 24 at the tip of the nozzle 18.

When compressed air is forced through the hose 20 and conduits 19 and 21 a suction or'aspirating eflect is induced into the suction branch 23 and if the device as a whole is directed to a pocket of molten metal 12 the metal will be drawn up therefrom and 'into the xhaust branch 23 and thence to conduit 21 and outward therefrom at discharge opening 22 wherein it will be deposited in another portion of the open hearth furnace from which point it may readly flow out through the tap hole 11 in a simple and convenient manner.

In order to keep the pockets of metal 12 molten during this aspirating action, I provide the oxygen conduit 25 leading from the head end of the unit to the outlet 26 in the nozzle 18 so that oxygen introdu ced throughthe line 25 can support combustion during the aspirating action within the open hearth furnace andi keep the metal rnolten during the necessary period to prevent its freezng.

In order to keep the entire unit cooled while it is within the confines of the open hearth furnace, I further provide means for ntroducing and circulating through the aspirating device 13 cooling water by introducing it at the head end as at 27 through the nlet line 28 and after circulating within the shell 17 the cooling water can exhaust therefrom through outlet 29 and hose 30.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided an economical, efficient and mobile aspiratong device for removing molten metal from pockets or faults in the bed of an open hearth furnace in a rapid and economical manner without requirng dismantling of the furnace bed and thus prolonging its use.

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes may' be made in the details thercof without departing from its scope.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing molten steel from a pocket thereof collected in a fault in the bed of an open hearth fumace to another portion of the bed wherefrom the metal can readily be drained, comprising an aspirating device formed with a nozzle at one end, said device being adapted to be passed through a furnace door into said furnace and its nozzle directed toward a pocket in the furnace bed from which molten metal is to be removed, an air conduit in said device having its inlet opening at the head end thereof and disposed longitudinally therein and including a transversely extending exhaust branch opening to one side of said device, and a suctin branch connected to said exhaust branch and opening to the nozzle of said device, said aspirator further including an oxygen conduit having its inlet at the head end of the device and its outlet adjacent the nozzle of the device whereby to support combustion and maintain steel in molten condition when aspirating a pool thereof from a fault in an open hearth furnace bed.

2. Apparatus for removing molten steel from a pocket thereof collected in a fault in the bed of an open hearth furnace to another portion of the bed wherefrom the metal can readily be drained, comprising an aspirating device formed with a nozzle at one end, said device being adapted to be passed through a furnace door into said fumace and its nozzle directed toward a pocket in the furnace bed from which molten metal is to be removed, an aii-conduit in said device having its inlet opening at the head end thereof and disposed longitudinally therein and including a transversely extending exhaust branch opening to one side of said device, .and a suction branch connected to said exhaust branch and opening to the nozzle of said device, said asprator further including a cooling water conduit disposed in and around said device having inlet and outlet openings at the head end thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,451 11/1962 Keohane 239-13 3,342,378 9/1967 Mezoff et al 239-433 X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

